ICMR drops Plasma therapy from Covid19 protocols

According to the study conducted by the taske force formed by AIMSICMR Covid 19 and health ministry it found no therapeutic benefits in the patients which were admitted to hospital with the disease. The decision was taken recently to omit the therapy from the Covid19 Standard Operating Procedures. 

As per the findings when compared with usual care, the high-titre convalescent plasma did not reduce 28-day mortality. 

On May 17, 2021 India dropped the convalescent therapy from its national clinical management protocol for Covid19. In this, blood plasma from people is taken from those who have recovered from Covid19. 
The decision was announced after a three day trial was conducted. This was after the largest trial was conducted to understand the effect of convalescent plasma in patients who are in Hospital being treated for Covid19. The report was published in the Lancet Medical journal. 
There have been similar studies which were conducted in the past in Netherlands and China too which too showed no improvement in the patients after using convalescent plasma therapy. 

What is plasma ? 
Plasma is taken from those who have fully recovered from Covid19. It is the clear liquid portion of the blood that remains after red and white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components have been taken from blood. 
ICMR has issued a report after conducting an evidence based advisory to address the inappropriate use of convalescent plasma in Covid19. The study emphasized that plasma with a low concentration of specific antibodies against Covid19 may not be beneficial in treating Covid19 patients as compared to plasma with high concentration of antibodies. 

The information on recovery trial which were published on May 14, revealed that high titre convalescent plasma did not reduce the probability of discharge within 28 days. The study also suggested that it showed no evidence of any benefit in any kind of patient group. 
(Source : Indian Express)